Charging apparatus for carbonizing plants



Dec. 27, 1938. M H. M EWAN CHARGING APPARATUS FOR CARBONIZING PLANTS Filed Dec. 1, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet l I/Vl/ENTOR J6 M ATTOR/VEV Dec. 27, 1938. M. H. MCEWAN CHARGING APPARATUS FOR CARBONIZING PLANTS 1, 1957 5 Shets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec'.

Dec; 27, 1938. M, H. MCEWANY CHARGING APPARATUS FOR CARBONIZING PLANTS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 1

ATTOR/YfY-S Patented Dec. 27, 1938 UNITED STA Frie Matthew Hamilton McEwan, London, England,

assignor to Woodail-Duckham (1920) Limited, London, England, a British company Application December 1, 1937, Serial No. 177,574

11 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in charging apparatus for carbonizing plant, and especially it relates to improvements in the charging cars employed for charging coal into horizontal coke-ovens.

Horizontal coke-ovens are charged with coal from a charging car running on rails along the top of the oven battery. The charging car carries a number of hoppers corresponding to the number of charging holes in the roof of each oven, and in charging an oven, according to the present practice, the charging car is brought into position so that the mouth of each hopper is above the corresponding charging hole, and when the covers on the charging holes have been removed, a valve or slide in the hopper mouth is opened, and the coal contained in the hopper flows into the oven. v

With charging cars such as those referred to in the preceding paragraph, it is sometimes found in practice, particularly with charging damp or small-sized coal, that the coal tends to hang up in the hopper, and does not flow smoothly and uniformly into the oven. Moreover, it is found that the inclined surfaces of the hopper must have a certain minimum inclination or the coal will tend to stick, and hence, for a given coal capacity, the height of the hoppers is determined by these considerations.

The present invention provides a construction for charging cars, in which the free discharge of the coal is facilitated. Charging cars according to the present invention are especially suitable for charging coke-ovens, and for this purpose have certain technical and operational advantages.

The principal objects of the present invention are to produce a charging car in which the sides of the hopper or hoppers, in the discharging position, are steeply-inclined or vertical, so that a large part of the contents of thehopper has practically a free vertical fall through the discharging outlet, to allow any material to remain thereon, and furthermore, to achieve these conditions whilst maintaining the capacity of the hoppers at a given amount without increasing the overall height of the car. The present invention allows these objects to be attained.

According to the present invention a charging car for carbonizing plant includes a hopper open at its lower end and pivoted for rotation about a horizontal axis between an inclined position and a vertical position, in which vertical position the various sides of said hopper are vertical or steepwhilst the inclined sides are too steep,

Great Britain January 30, 1937 ly inclined, a fixed mouthpiece containing an aperture positioned below said hopper and a side plate on said mouthpiece, the lower end of said hopper co-acting with said mouthpiece and side plate, which side plate in the inclined position of the hopper closes the lower open end thereof, and means for turning said hopper on its axis to the vertical position in which the lower open end of the hopper coincides with the aperture in said mouthpiece for discharging the contents of the hopper through said mouthpiece.

Further features of the invention relate to the provision of smoke shields on the lower part of the hopper, to the shape and configuration of the sides of the hopper, to the construction and arrangement of the bearings for the hoppers, to the provision of scrapers on the lower edge of the hoppers, to the provision of means for imparting vibration to the hoppers when in the discharging position, and to' the arrangement of the operating mechanism for turning the hoppers, as hereinafter described and claimed.

By way of example, the construction and operation of a charging car according to the present invention is described with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, but the scope of the invention is not limitedv to the specific embodiment described. In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a part-sectional side view of the charging car showing a hopper in the charging position,

Figure 2 is a part-sectional front View on the line A--A of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a part-sectional plan,

Figure 4 is a part-sectional view of a hopper in the discharging position,

Figure 5 is a sectional View on the line B-B of Figure 4,

Figure 6 is a detail of the lower outlet of the hopper showing the scraper device,

Figure 7 is a sectional detail of the bearing of the hopper,

Figure 8 is a view of the bearing perpendicular to the section of Figure '7,

Figure 9 shows the drive for the vibrating hammer device, and

Figure 10 shows an enlarged section of the vibrating hammer device.

A strong framework ll, mounted on wheels for movement along the top of the coke-oven battery or the like, and having the usual traction mechanism, carries the appropriate number of hoppers l2, corresponding to the number of charging holes in the ovens. In the car illustrated, four such hoppers are shown. The lower parts of the hoppers differ slightly in shape as shown in Figure 2, in order to register with the various charging holes, but in all cases the inclination of the inclined parts of the hoppers when in the discharging position is greater than the normal angle of repose of coal. 7

he hoppers it are mounted in bearings l3 on the framework 25; the arrangement of the bearii; is more fully described with reference to Figures and 3. Below each hopper i2 is a fixed mouthpiece i i, corresponding to the number of charging holes in the oven, and carrying the usual drop sleeve 55 to guide the coal into the charging hole. 'The drop sleeves are operated from the drivers cab by the lever it through the linkage shown in Figure l. The mouthpiece i4 is a casting which is bolted to the framework of the machine. Attached to the top side of each mouthpiece is a cylindrically-curved side plate clearly shown in Figure 4. The mouthpiece i i, the side plate it, and the front support J8 are preferably cast as separate units, and bolted together, so that any portion is separately renewable.

The lower part of each hopper l2 tapers to an appropriate extent from the main body of the hopper, and is open ended. The lower open end of the hopper i2 slides over the curved side plate it which normally closes the open end (preferably there is a slight clearance between the end of the hopper and the plate 56, to prevent undue wear; as hereafter explained). Side flanges H are provided on the mouthpiece i i .and on the side plate it to prevent escape of coal at the sides.

The frontsupport it also serves as a flame shield each side of a hopper is an arm I9, the outer ends of each pair of armsbeing joined by a shaft 2%. On each shaft 233 is a connecting rod 2! to a crank member 22. The motive power is pro-' vided by motors 23 each serving two hoppers.

The motors 23 drive a main shaft through reduction gear 2% and each one of the cranks 22 can be coupled separately to the main shaft by the clutches 25a, 25b, 25c and 25d.

Engaging anyone of the clutches 25 causes the attached crank to revolve slowly, whereby the connecting rod 2! is advanced to the position 26 (Figure 1) The respective hopper l2'is thereby turned from the position of Figure 1 (where the principal axis of the hopper is inclined to the vertical and which I term the inclined position) to the discharging position shownin Figure 4 (in which the principal axis of the hopper.

is vertical and which I term the vertical position), in which position the lower open' end of the hopper i 2 registers completely with the aperture in the mouthpiece it for the discharge of the hopper. The precise operation of the chargin car is more fully described hereinafter. The,

connecting rodZi is preferably attached to the shaft 2% ata position in a vertical plane passing approximately through the centre of mass of the hopper when filled, in order that the thrust exerted by the connecting rod 2i shall not cause undue'twisting stresses to'be applied to the beariti, so that as the hopper is turned to. the dis charging position, the shield 2'1 covers that part of the aperture not covered by the hopper outlet,

and so prevents the escape of smoke through the gap until the coincidence of the hopper outlet with the mouthpiece is completed. When the outlet of the hopper is in full coincidence with the mouthpiece M the smoke shield 27 has moved over to the position shown in Figure 4. On the trailing edge of the hopper i2 is an adjustable scraper 28 (see Figure 6) which moves over the side plate is to assist in sweeping the coal into the mouthpiece.

There is preferably a slight clearance between the open end of thehcpper and the side plate E6, in order to prevent wear on these elements, but as the coal charged into coke-ovens is usually crushed to a small size (about inch) the gap' must not be greater than this. The design of the bearings 83 shown in Figures 'l and 8 enables the position of the hopper l2 relative to the mouthpieceand side plate to be adjusted accurately. The bearing it comprises a trunnion 29 (see Fig ures 7 and 8) carrying a hardened steel sleeve attached to the side of the hopper l2, and

rotating in a box 3! on the framework of the car. The base member 32 which supports the trunnion has a hardened steel plate 33 on which the trunnion member 293ii rotates, so that friction and wear are reduced to a minimum. The base 32 is free to move vertically, and a number of removable thin distance pieces 34 are provided, between the base 32 and the frame of the car, that the vertical height-of the hopper I2 is adjustable by small degrees, whereby the clear' ance between the hopper and the fixed mouthpiece can be easily adjusted.

in order to assist in discharging coal from the hoppers, and to prevent it sticking or hangingup therein, vibrations can be imparted to each hopper when in the discharging position, by the rotating hammer device 35 shown in detail in Figures ,9 and 10. The hammer comprises a series of rollers'fit, the pivots of which are free to move in radial slots in the member 31'. One

such hammer is provided for each hopper, and

charging station, the hoppers l2 occupy the position shown in Figure 1. Coal is charged into the hopper to the'height shown by the'dotted line til, the lower end of the hopper being closed 7 by means of the side plate '56. The charging car is then brought into position over an oven to be charged, the charging hole covers are removed and the. drop sleeves i5 loweredfin accordance with the usual practice. I The motors 23 are assumed'to be running, and the appropriateclutch 25 is then engaged according to which hopper or hoppers it is desired to release. The crank 22 then rotates, slowly turning the hopper through the connecting rod 25 to the position of Figure 4. As the lower open end of the hopper moves over the aperture in the mouthpiece'ilfl" the coal starts to flow into the oven,

' audit will be seen from Figure 4 that the greater part of the contents of the hopper has practically a freeiverticalfall through the mouthpiece fit. The coalon the trailing side of thehopper is swept into the mouthpiece by the movement of the trailing edge and the scraper 23 over the side plate it. When the hopper reaches the final discharge position, the clutch is withdrawn, and the movement of the hopper stopped. In this position the hammer operates against the side of the hopper and the vibration loosens, any coal which tends to stick. The other clutches are then engaged at the appropriate times and in accordance with the sequence in which it is desired to charge the oven.

The attainment by a hopper of the final discharging position (complete coincidence of the open end with the aperture in the mouthpiece) is signalled to the operator by the sound of the hammer 35 striking against the hopper, but if the hammer device is not used, or in addition thereto as a precautionary measure, other signalling devices may be incorporated, for example, limit switches may be provided in conjunction with the motors 28, or a switch may be actuated by the movement of the hopper to light a warning lamp, or mechanism may be provided engaged by the hopper or the crank 22 as it reaches its final position to disengage the clutch.

When the hopper is discharged, the clutch 25 is reengaged and the further rotation of the crank 22 draws the empty hopper back to the position of Figure 1. As the direction of rotation of the cranks 22 is the same for advancing and retracting the hoppers, there are no diniculties due to dead-centre positions of the connecting rods 2i.

It is obviously possible to provide alternative sources of motive power for turning the hoppers. For example, one small motor may be provided for each individual hopper, or a single motor may be arranged to actuate all the hoppers.

The hoppers l2, the mouthpiece it, the side plate it and the front support iii are easily removable, in the present construction, for renewal or repair. The hoppers l2 may be lifted directly oif their bearings after removal of the boxes 3 l giving free access to the fixed mouthpiece and its adjoining components, all of which may be lifted directly out of the car after removal of the holding bolts. As the mouthpiece and side plates are separate castings, either may be renewed independently of the other. It is a further advantage of the present construction that all controls are located in the operators cab.

The present invention enables the hoppers to have vertical and steeply inclined sides in the discharging position, while maintaining the capacity of the hoppers, and without increasing the height thereof.

What I claim is: I 1

1. For use as a charging car for carbonizing plant the following. elements in combination: a framework movable above the carbonizing plant, a hopper open at its lower end and pivotally mounted on the framework for rotation about a horizontal axis between an inclined position and a vertical position, a fixed mouthpiece containing an aperture positioned below said hopper and a side plate on said mouthpiece, the lower end of said hopper co-acting with the said mouthpiece and side plate, which side plate in the inclined position of the hopper closes the lower open end thereof whilst in the vertical position the lower open end coincides with the aperture in said mouthpiece, and means for turning. the hopper on its axisv between the two said positions.

2. In combination, a framework movable above a carbonizing plant,.a hopper open at its lower end and pivotally mounted on the framework for rotation about a horizontal axis passing through the body of the hopper between an inclined position and a vertical position, a fixed mouthpiece containing an aperture positioned below said hopper and a side plate on said mouthpiece, the lower end of said hopper co-acting with said mouthpiece and side plate, which side plate in the inclined position of the hopper closes the lower open end thereof whilst in the vertical position the lower open end coincides with the aperture in said mouthpiece, and means for turning the hopper on its axis between the two said positions, the combination forming a charging car for the carbonizing plant and being charged with the hopper in the inclined position and discharged by turning said hopper to the vertical position for discharging the contents thereof through said mouthpiece into the carbonizI-ing plant.

3. For use as a charging car for carbonizing plant the following elements in combination: a framework movable above the carbonizing plant, a plurality of separate and independent hoppers each open at its lower end and each pivotally -counted on the framework for rotation about a horizontal passing through the body of the hopper between an inclined position and a vertical position, in which vertical position the various sides of a hopper are vertical or steeply inclined, a fixed mouthpiece containing an aperture positioned below each hopper and a curved side plate on each mouthpiece, the lower end of each hopper co-acting with the mouthpiece and side plate associated therewith, the side plate closing the lower open end of the hopper when the latter is in the inclined position and the lower open end coinciding with the aperture in the mouthpiece when the hopper is in the vertical position, a source of power, and mechanism between said hoppers and said source of power for turning each hopper individually on its axis between the two said positions, the hoppers being charged in the inclined position and discharged into the carbonizing plant by turning said hoppers to the vertical position.

4. In a charging car for carbonizing plant as claimed in claim 3, the provision of a smoke shield attached to the leading edge of the lower open end of each hopper, and moving over the aperture in the mouthpiece.

5. In a charging car for carbonizing plant as claimed in claim 3 the provision of an adjustable scraper on the trailing edge of the lower open end of each hopper, moving over the side plate on the mouthpiece.

6. For use as a charging car for carbonizing plant the following elements in combination: a framework movable above the carbonizing plant, a hopper open at its lower end and pivotally mounted on the framework for rotation about a tioned below said hop-per and a curved side plate on said mouthpiece, up-standing side flanges on said side plate and on said mouthpiece, the lower end of said hopper co-acting with said mouthpiece and side plate, which side plate in the inclined position of the hopper closes the lower open end thereof, whilst in the vertical position the lower open end coincides with the aperture in said mouthpiece, means for turning said hopper on its axis of rotation between the two said positions, and adjustable bearings for said hopper on said framework whereby the lower end of said hopper may be positioned correctly with respect to said mouthpiece and side plate.

7. A charging car for carbonizing plant as claimed in claim 6, in which said adjustable bearings comprise trunnions on the hopper, a housing on the framework for each trunnion, and a vertically-adjustable support in said housing, on which supports said trunnions rest.

8. For use as a charging car for carbonizing plant the following elements in combination: a framework movable above the carbonizing plant,

a hopper open at its lower end pivotally mounted on the framework for rotation about a horizontal axis between an inclined position in which the principal axis of the hopper is inclined to the vertical and a vertical position in which the principal axis of the hopper is vertical and the various sides of the hopper are vertical or steeply inclined, a fixed mouthpiece containing'an aperture arranged below said hopper and a curved side plate on said mouthpiece, the lower end of said hopper coacting with said mouthpiece and side plate, which side plate in the inclined position of the hopper closes the lower open end thereof, whilst in the vertical position the lower open end coincides with the aperture insaid mouthpiece, power means for turning said hopper from the inclined position to the vertical position and conversely, and means becoming operative on the hopper attaining a vertical position for imparting vibrations to the hopper.

9. Charging car for carbonizing plant, as claimed in claim 8, including a hammer device operated by the said means for turning the hopper, for imparting vibrations to the hopper when said hopper is in the vertical position with the lower open end in coincidence with the aperture in the mouthpiece.

, 10. For use as a charging car for carbonizing plant'the following elements in combination: a framework movable above the carbonizing plant, a plurality of separateand independent hoppers each open at its lower end and each pivoted for rotation about a horizontal axis passing through the body of the hopper between an inclined posiwhen the latter is in the inclined position, whilst in the vertical position the lower open end coincides with the aperture in said mouthpiece, power means for turning said hoppers and mechanism 7 for turning each hopper between the inclined and the vertical positions and conversely independently of the remaining hoppers, each hopper being charged in the inclined position and discharged by turning the hopper to the vertical position for discharging the contents thereof through the associated mouthpiece into the carbonizing plant.

ll. Charging car for carbonizing plant as ciairned in claim 10, including side members attached to opposite sides of each hopper, a shaft joining the outer'ends of each associated pair of side members, a connecting rod interconnecting each shaft and the means for turning the hoppers, each connecting rod operating in a vertical'plane passing substantially through the centre of of the hopper with which it is associated.

MATTHEW HAMILTON I /[CE WAN. 

